Motorcycle Crash Injures 40-year-old Man

Another motorcycle crash in as many days in Lunenburg County. A 40-year-old man was taken to South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater Wednesday night after losing control of his motorbike along highway 3 in Centre. The man suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries. RCMP say speed is considered a factor. Traffic was disrupted and detours were set up while members of the Lunenburg Fire Department, EHS and RCMP were on scene. Earlier this week, a 17-year-old was killed after crashing his bike outside Lilydale.

Argyle MLA Seeks More Public Input In Wind Farm Issue

The Dexter government is moving ahead full steam, promoting wind power generation with little or no input from the public.  That comment from the MLA for Argyle, Chris d'Entremont. He has had a meeting with the province's Energy minister Charlie Parker and Environment minister Sterling Belliveau.  d'Entremont says if nothing else, the ministers received some idea of the extent of the concerns of his constituents. He says his constituents are worried about the possible effects of large wind turbines on people who live near them.



Municipal council in Argyle will hold an emergency public meeting tonight to discuss a proposed wind farm project there. The environment minister, Sterling Belliveau. must decide by mid-August on whether to move ahead with an environmental assessment of the project.

Bridgewater Exhibition, Harmony Bazaar Get Federal Funding

Two summer events on the South Shore are receiving federal funds. Gerald Keddy has announced $27,500 for the South Shore Exhibition and $5,500 for Harmony Bazaar. The MP for South Shore-St.Margaret's says the two events are big tourist draws for the area. The Exhibition goes from July 24-29 in Bridgewater while Harmony Bazaar will be held next weekend in Lockeport.

Charges After Drug Bust in Arcadia

Four people are facing charges after a drug bust in Yarmouth County. Three men and a woman have been charged with production and trafficking after police raided a home on Jacquard Corner in Arcadia. RCMP seized 124 marihuanna plants and 445 grams of pot in additon to some cash and a scale. The accused range in age from 28 to 44 years-old. The four individuals are scheduled to appear in court in September.

Shelburne Firefighters Save Five Homes From Fire

Firefighters in Shelburne helped save at least five homes from going up in flames. Crews responded quickly to a call regarding a forest fire around 2:30 yesterday afternoon. The fire broke out just off the Wrights Road and was under control by supper time. Fire Chief Edgar Allison says there were some tense moments because the fire was burning so close to the town.



Allison says the path of the fire was difficult to predict and several families were put on evacuation notice. An official from the Department of Natural Resources suffered minor injuries and was carried off the scene on a stretcher.

New Beds Will Help Staff At South Shore Health

The CEO of South Shore Health says an investment in new hospital beds will help staff avoid injuries on the job. The provincial government recently announced $300,000 to replace 49 hospital beds in Bridgewater and Lunenburg. Dr. Peter Vaghan says health care workers often suffer from back problems due to lifting and moving patients with limited mobility. He says the new beds have many modern features including built in weight scales to help staff.



A recent study by Statistics Canada found nurses suffer from back pain more than any other profession. The two main risks for back injury are lifting and transferring patients.

Premier's & Aboriginal Leaders Meet in Lunenburg

Canada's premiers and aboriginal leaders will meet in Lunenburg next week. Agenda items are still being finalized but some topics include education and economic development. The issue of violence against aboriginal women is another main discussion item. The meeting will also feature representatives from the Assembly of First Nations, Metis National Council and Natives Women's Association of Canada. The meeting will be held next Wednesday at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic.

UPDATED: Crews Contain Forest Fire in Shelburne

 

Fire crews were able to contain a forest fire near Shelburne just off the Wright's Road. Several families were put on evacuation notice but were not been asked to leave their home. Officials from the Department of Natural Resources have a helicopter on stand by to help battle the blaze cool down hot spots. It's not known what sparked the blaze which began this afternoon.

Bridgewater Welcomes 'Afterglow' Arts Initiative

Ashton Rodenhiser

A new event in Bridgewater is calling on volunteers and artists to make it a success. Ashton Rodenhiser recently spoke to town council regarding an arts initiative called 'Afterglow'. Its modelled after an evening festival in Halifax where artists create works of art including projections off buildings, or gallery style viewings outdoors. Rodenhiser says the event would help build an arts identity for Bridgewater.



Mayor Carroll Publicover says he's on board with the concept.



The event will take up space and use electricity in Shipyards Landing and King Street Court. It will be held from 6pm until midnight on September 15. More details can be found at http://afterglowbridgewater.wordpress.com/ .

MODL: Tax Increases For Three Fire Departments

Three Lunenburg County fire departments are raising their tax rates. Midville and District, Riverport and Pleasantville and District have increased their taxes for 2012-13. Midville and District is raising its rate from 13 cents to 17 cents, Riverport is increasing from seven to nine cents, Pleasantville and District is going up by two cents from 11 to 13 cents. Tri District, featuring Baker Settlement, Chelsea and Newcombville fire departments has set their rate at 15 cents. All rates are per $100 of assessment. Mayor Don Downe says he understands why a hike is needed.



Martins River is the only department to drop its rate. It falls from 17 cents to 15 cents. Twenty-seven other department tax rates are either staying the same or weren't available.

Tall Ships Set To Sail Around Nova Scotia

 

Some of the first tall ships are starting to sail into Halifax harbour as the city prepares for a five-day festival celebrating the vessels. The Tall Ships Challenge Atlantic fleet will participate in the festival that officially kicks off tomorrow. They'll cast off their lines on Monday and participate in the traditional parade of sail. The ships will arrive in Lunenburg next week for two days beginning on Wednesday. They'll also make an appearance in Shelburne on July 28th and 29th.

Fire Destroys Vacant South Shore Home

A South Shore home thats been vacant for about 6 months has been destroyed by fire.

Located in Newburne, the Cornwall and District Fire Department responded to the blaze shortly after getting the call before daybreak.  Steve Patterson is the Cornwall fire chief. (Click below)



Waldon fire fighters were also brought in to help.  The exact cause of the fire isn't known yet but Chief Patterson says there is some suspicion lightning in the area may have set it off. (Click below)



No one was hurt.  The fire marshall is investigating.

Liverpool's Whalen Hosting Track and Field Camp

Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen calls it an opportunity to give back to the community. The 19-year-old is working with the Region of Queens this summer to offer a track and field camp for kids aged six to 15-years-old. Whalen says she wants to provide kids with an advantage she never had.



The track and field introduction camp will be held in Liverpool Tuesdays and Thursdays from July 24 until August 16. Kids aged six to nine will participate in a run, jump, throw clinic while older age groups will be a mix of the clinic and more fundamentals of the sport. People can register by contacting the Region of Queens at 354-5741. The cost is five dollars to register. See here for more information: http://www.athletics.ca/page.asp?id=64. .

MODL: Councillors Young And Nauss Nominated For Queen's Medal

Two councillors with the Municipality of Lunenburg are being nominated for a prestigious award. Arthur Young and Lee Nauss will be among the considerations for a Queens Diamond Jubilee medal. Mayor Don Downe says both men have combined for roughly 87 years around the council table.




Young is being nominated as a recipient for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Nauss is being considered by the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities.

RCMP ID Victim In Fatal Motorcycle Crash

RCMP have released the name of the teenager killed in a fatal motorcycle crash in Lunenburg County. Seventeen year-old Easton Morrow of Conquerall Bank was killed in a single vehicle collision yesterday afternoon on Highway 3 just outside of Lilydale. Police are still investigating the cause of the crash. However, Corporal Dyson Smith says road conditions or alcohol were not factors. The highway was closed for nearly four hours while first responders worked at the scene.

Resolute & NS Gov't Help Former Bowater Workers

 

Former Bowater Mersey employees in Queen County will have access to career specialists to help them find new employment. Resolute Forest Products and the province is investing $125,000 each to provide displaced workers with training and match them with local jobs. The money will held create one full-time job developer and two part-time transition development officers. The temporary services will be available to former workers throughout the next year. Eighty thousand dollars of the funding will support additional program options for workers who require help to retrain or to re-enter the workforce. The job developer will help identify employers in the area who are hiring, then match workers to those available jobs. The career specialists will join career resource teams already in place at the South Shore Opportunities in Liverpool and Employment Solutions Society in Bridgewater. For more information phone 902-354-2616 in Liverpool and 902-543-2479 in Bridgewater.

School Board: Minister Supports Seat Reduction

Education Minister Ramona Jennex calls it a good decision to reduce the size of the South Shore Regional school board. The province's Utility and Review Board released its 19-page decision Monday and set the board size at eight. It represents a reduction of four seats compared to the last school board election in 2008. Jennex is confident the region can get the job done with eight members.



She says it was a fair and open process and believes a decision was based accurately on the information that was provided to the URB.

MODL: Hustvedt Seeking Second Term

A councillor with the Municipality of Lunenburg is going after a second term. Eric Hustvedt is seeking re-election for District 12, representing communities including LaHave, Petite Riviere and West Dublin. He says he's enjoyed helping others through his first four years.



Hustvedt says he prides himself on being accessible by attending as many community events as possible.The 65-year-old Hustvedt is a council representative for many organizations including the Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation and Growing Green Festival. The Broad Cove resident says the LCLC and shared services between Mahone Bay and Bridgewater are challenges for the future.

Region Of Queens: Mayor's Race Heats Up

 

A four horse race is shaping up for the mayor's chair in the Region of Queens. Three current councillors and a former mayor have already declared their intentions to run for the position when municipal elections are held this fall. Potential candidates include Owen Hamlin, Mervin Hartlen and Darlene Norman. Former mayor Christopher Clarke has also announced his intention to seek the mayor's seat. Clarke served as mayor for a term from 1996-2000. Current mayor John Leefe announced he wouldn't seek re-election in March after holding the title for the past 12 years. A mayors debate is being organized in Liverpool with a tentative date set for September 18th at the Astor Theatre.

Identity Of Accident Victim Not Released Yet

The name of the victim of yesterday's motorcycle accident in Lunenburg County hasn't been released yet. It is believed he was from the county area. No other vehicles were involved in the crash near Lilydale, mid-afternoon on Monday.  The RCMP say road conditions or alcohol are not considered factors in the crash. However, they say speed may have played a role. The investigation is continuing.